5/13/10 - On The Move

Bethany is desperately trying to crawl, especially when she sees something right in front of her that she wants.  She’ll push herself up onto her hands and knees (or sometimes even hands and toes), but manages to scoot herself backwards instead of forwards, which she finds endlessly frustrating.   She can pivot to see things behind her and pull herself around 180 degrees.  She’s also starting to sit up for longer periods of time before tipping over.  It’s tough to watch her struggle through this transitional phase and see how frustrated she gets. 

 

It’s amazing the things our children teach us about life, without saying a word.  As a mom, I just want to jump in and hand her the toy, pick her up and move her forward, or otherwise make it easier for her (especially since she’s the baby of the family).  But that would be serving me, not her.  How would it benefit my kids if I were to remove all the obstacles and frustrations that are a crucial part of their development and growth?   As much as I want to spare them what often seems like “unnecessary” difficulty, and as much as I may feel like a “mean” or “uncompassionate” mommy for not just smoothing the way when I have the ability to do so, the truth is that these natural struggles produce the perseverance and character they will eventually need to stand on their own two feet in the real world.  If I interfere with that process, it may make me feel better, but in the long run I would actually cause them harm by taking away their opportunities to grow. 

 

Toys and Games

I got a new toy organizer for the play room, taping pictures on the front of different cubbies so the girls would know which toys go in which container.  They enjoy the novelty and seem to think it’s a big sorting game.  All the better when it comes time to clean up! 

 

Our friends Christopher and Rocio gave Eva their daughter’s old bike, and Eva is sooo thrilled!  It has a Disney princess theme with Sesame Street training wheels.  With the weather finally starting to warm up and the days getting longer, Dave has been taking the girls down the street in the evenings, Eva on her new bike and Amanda on the tricycle.  Eva is still unsure with the training wheels and wants Daddy to hold on to her seat, but she’s getting the hang of it. 

 

Amanda has become obsessed with princesses, especially Disney ones.  We have a series of little Disney dolls with rubber dresses, and she never gets tired of changing their clothes.  She’ll put on Eva’s old dress shoes and “lose” one, and Eva will chase her with it, yelling, “stop, Cinderella!”  It’s adorable how their little imaginations work.  They both enjoy acting out scenes from their favorite movies (especially Cinderella, Eva’s new favorite), but Amanda seems to be more of my “girly girl”.   I have to draw the line on singing like the mice in Cinderella, though.  When they get high-pitched enough, it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard! 

 

Dinner Time

Bethany is eating a variety of soft baby foods now.  She seems to prefer carrots and pears, but so far doesn’t like peas or green beans.   Amanda will eat almost anything I put in front of her, which is a Godsend for a two-year-old, especially a gluten-free one!   Thankfully she was diagnosed early enough for her to be able to develop a taste for alternative snacks.  She loves tuna fish on gluten-free crackers and spaghetti or mac-n-cheese made with rice pasta.   My friend Katya has made her pizza on corn tortillas, and we’ve made her gluten-free donuts using a baking mix and a donut maker (like a waffle iron).   So far it’s all been a big hit. 

 

Eva is a little more picky.  She loves pricey vegetables like artichokes or avocado, but turns up her nose at the cheaper variety, like corn or peas (I’ll admit, I’m with her when it comes to peas!).  She knows we often feed her the same thing as Amanda (to prevent arguments), and will sometimes ask, “can I have the gluten one?” when we make both varieties. 

Grabby Grabberson

Bethany has started grabbing faces, hair, glasses, or anything else she can get her hands on.  We’re already having to scan the area for choke-able objects that the girls might leave in their wake.  She loves to sit in my lap and grab things off the desk.  I sometimes jokingly call her “grabby grabberson”.  

 

She’s also started talking up a storm. When we get together with our friends at small group on Sunday nights, she’ll be loudly babbling while Rocio’s son Andrew, only a week older, silently watches in wonder.  I guess that extra “thousand-words-a-day” that women speak starts at a really early age!  Sometimes she’ll lay on her back and rock her head back and forth while flailing her arms and legs so it looks like she’s dancing, “singing” at the top of her voice.  It appears we may have a budding performing artist! 

Eva Sings Butterfly Song April 2010

Eva and her Pre-K class sing "If I Were A Butterfly" at the First Class Friday School Open House, Spring 2010. Lyrics:
http://bussongs.com/songs/the_butterfly_song.php